Part 2. Dead Ghoul. Chapter 4. A return to life
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Give me the stones.
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29 December 1025 in the Imperial calendar.
I opened my eyes ajar, skewing my gaze to Felicia lying next to me. The girl who had taken up the entire blanket was sleeping sweetly, after our rather stormy night. Yeah, it's been almost three months since we met and we're already a couple. To be honest, she confessed her love to me at the end of the first month, and I... I refused. And after a month, still having got my hunger in a collar, having learnt to control the absorption with ease, just after another hunt, I kissed her... Then followed sex, after which she scratched my face, allegedly "I corrupted her", well, we became a couple. Heh, to be honest, it's funny. For some reason, the word "couple" makes me feel like a child. Or have I aged so much since the deformity?
Either way, Dorothea took it rather exuberantly. She was furious and called me an unfeeling blind stump and threw me out of the house. Felya was hunting fish, so there was no problem. So we settled in a hut in the west of the Empire, not far from one of the villages, with the inhabitants of which I got along quite well by the way.
But... it wasn't like that. Life was starting to feel kind of... wrong to me. I wonder if it's because the canon is over. In theory, it probably would have ended after the Empire was taken over... Heh, I wonder how Tatsumi would have handled the First Teigu?
By the way, I've discovered some new abilities. One of them is the creation of golem-like creatures through which you can see, hear and feel. And they also absorb people with their memories. Speaking of the latter, if before I had only bits of knowledge of the victim, now I absorbed the entire memory, however... It was as if it was in a drawer, from which I can get it if I want. That is, in everyday life, I don't remember anything from the victims' lives, I don't make analogies with their cases in life, but I can remember certain information.
Ah yes, golems... I created them in the guise of the hunters from the Prototype, while still conforming to Mercer's image.
Not that it matters much, though. I started to get up, creating my usual white coat with black trousers and turtleneck. Fishy grumbled unhappily in her sleep, but a second later she was stretched out on the bear skin in a star pose. I had made the bed more than once, but each time, during a stormy night, the cot could not withstand our pace and broke. After the broken iron frame, I simply laid on the floor the best bear skin from the local hunters, and I didn't have to mess with the furniture anymore. And it was much closer to the fireplace.
I grinned at the girl, and then headed out. I should visit the village... I haven't been there in a while.
***
- Kaneki! - A dozen children from 6 to 12 shouted as I approached.
They were a regular feature of my walk through the village. Every time, I met them, sometimes the lineup changed a bit, but that didn't stop me from knowing the names of them all. Still, I even played with them a couple of dozen times. At first Filia talked me into it, but then I agreed on my own.
- Hee-hee-hee-hee! - I stretched out, smiling and waving at the kids. - hello, children!
Still, there was something wrong with the smell. There was a very faint, strange, familiar smell coming from them.
- And they asked about you! - With a concerned look on their faces, they said.
- М? - I was surprised, inwardly alarmed. - Who?
- It's a grown-up girl-beautiful! - began to describe one of the boys, named Nikon. - She has long blue hair, blue eyes. And she's tall! Very tall! A little shorter than you!
- Yes? - I pretended to be surprised, inwardly shuddering with laughter. She's really shorter than me now. As far as I remember, she's 170cm tall, while Kaneki's height was 169. But now, I've grown considerably, by about five centimetres.
Still, the fact that she found me is flattering. She still hasn't given up on her crazy idea, and I accidentally bumped into her in Capital City about two months ago... while I wasn't quite in an adequate state of mind. I was probably behaving more like an animal than a human being. And she was digging at me before that. And for the last month, according to the informants she uses, like me, she's been spending huge sums on my location. However, taking into account that informants were connected with me much more firmly than usual money, namely by huge dirt on everyone that I had, they successfully kept me in secret, giving wrong tips on places where I was just passing through.
Why do I need informants? So I keep looking for more information about that fortress doctor who's breeding Ghouls for the Emperor. I'm also keeping an eye on the renegades... By the way, I'll be storming the fortress soon....
- So she's here... - I said, looking around the area. - And where is this girl now?
- In the house of the headman. - the children answered obediently.
- I see... thank you, I won't be able to play with you today. - I smiled. - Go make a big snow globe, and I will evaluate your work when I come back, okay?
- Yes! - squealed.
- Good. - I smiled, getting up and heading back home.
***
- FILA!!! - I yelled as I flew into the cabin, cringing at the snow in my hood. It was starting to blizzard, which wasn't good.
The girl immediately jumped up on her fur, exposing all her innermost parts, but I was not interested in seeing a pleasant picture.
- Get dressed! Here comes Esdes! - I exclaimed, throwing her white shirt and cloak at the girl, probing the room for panties.
- Wh-wh-what??? - Pussycat interjected in surprise.
- She'll kill you if she finds out you're my girlfriend, is that clearer? - I asked, finding the object of my search near the coat rack.
In a minute, Felicia was already dressed in her white coat with a fur collar, which she had asked me for, as well as white trousers, a grey jumper and black knee-high boots.
- Do I really have to go? - the kitty asked pitifully.
- Fel..." I sighed tiredly, "we've talked about this. I still love Esdes, and I can't just.....
- Okay, you already told me. - the girl smirked cheerfully. - But once you're done, I'm going to demand to pay the reward....
- Yes, I'm already looking forward to it. - I grinned back.
***
I watched Esdes' face through the hunter I pressed the girl into the snow. She knew about my ability to control hunters from somewhere, though, if she knew my current location.
- It's good to see you, too, Kaneki. - she said.
I gave her another glare, but stepped away from her, letting her go. Esdes rose from the resulting pit of crumpled snow, about half a metre deep, shaking off the snow and smiling unpleasantly. Something about her smile didn't make me feel good....
Oh, well. It's about time to welcome a guest. In a few seconds, I slipped out of the house into the arms of the blizzard and moved behind the girl's back.
- How stubborn you are..." I said. A smile, despite my best efforts, still came out on my face. - But that's why I love you.
She instantly turned to me, disbelievingly staring at the body that had matured me. She's changed a lot too... I don't know how, but she's definitely changed in some ways.
- Kaneki..." Esdes said quietly, looking at me in fascination.
So... I should scold her for continuing to chase me....
- It's funny..." I said, not taking my eyes off Esdes.
- What?" she asked, taking the first, small step towards me.
- The more I live, the less I understand people. It would be more logical to forget about me, but you... tell me, what makes you think I'm alive?
- Then..." Esdes whispered, clinging to me.
- You're my sadist..." I said jokingly, kissing her.
***
I spun Bluthege over the fire, cooking meat. It was funny, the sword, which turned out to be my last name from Louise's world, I was now using as a skewer.
The door behind me opened, telling me that Esdes was already awake. Speaking of Felicia. She headed for the village where she had her inn.
- Good morning. - I waved without looking.
- D-good morning," she replied.
- I'm sorry if this doesn't come out right. If you think about it, this is the first time I've cooked in... oh, when was that..." I grinned, trying to remember. Oh yeah... that's right... I still remember the agony I felt in front of an angry Touka... - unless you count the time I tested my fried human meat on Touka... Ahem, a long time ago. - I shook my head, turning Blutege over.
- Touke? - Esdes frowned. - Who's that?
- Just an old acquaintance of mine. - I waved my hand, seeing no reason to hide it. - Ghoul, like me. We worked together once, that's all.
Mm-hmm... worked... and I'd rather not talk about our subsequent relationship.
Meanwhile, Esdes had lost interest in the topic, prioritising food over conversation. Seeing the girl's distressing stomach, I sighed and began to remove the meat.
- Let's go. The meat is ready. - I said, heading towards the hut. - And put out the fire, please.
Esdes hurriedly frosted ice on the place of the fire, then moved after me. Let the tests of my kitchen begin!
***
I thoughtfully watched Esdes eating the steak. Hmm... she looked pleased. Did it really turn out well? I don't know about my home world, but in Fiora, I tried making chowder once... unsuccessfully.
- What's wrong? - Esdes asked, pulling away from the meat.
- Is it good? - I nodded at the steak.
- Yes. Very good. I haven't had anything like it in a long time. - Esdes smiled, digging into the meat again. Hmm... I really did it....
- It's New Year's Eve. - I grinned, remembering this insignificant fact. - How will you spend it?
- We will. - Esdes corrected him. - Maybe we'll go to the Capital.
Capital City? Really? I wonder what she's going to do there.
- All right. In principle, if we hurry, we'll reach the Capital by evening. - I said, jumping up from my chair and heading for the exit.
- Kaneki! - Esdes was indignant, throwing down her steak and quickly starting to pack. - Wait!
- I'm waiting, I'm waiting. - I nodded, stepping outside and closing my eyes.
So... I'd better get the hunter for the road. Well...
- I'm making a horse out of a killing machine... What a shame... - I grinned. You should cut your hair short, by the way.
- Kaneki..." came Esdes' voice.
I turned around, but when I saw what was in the girl's hands, I turned pale.
- And what is this? - Esdes asked, shaking her hand, which contained a lock of white hair.
- Erm... that's me... I threw it up out of anger. Something didn't add up the other day, so..." I quickly came up with a cover story. Shit, Felicia the cat pulled my hair out tonight.
- Ahh... And what about it? - Esdes nodded, staring at me.
- Um... - I stretched out - I just hunted around to no avail.
- Um... I see. - Esdes nodded, losing interest, which allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief. - Shall we go?
- Mm-hmm..." I nodded, glancing around the forest. It's going to be a busy day...
***
1 January 1026 in the Imperial calendar.
Yeah... looking at all those fireworks... It's funny, but I remember the New Year's Eve I spent in St. Petersburg. I was unfortunately passing through there, wanting to get to my family before New Year's Eve, but due to bad weather the flight was postponed and I had to celebrate alone. Yeah, well...
- You know," Esdes began, looking at the fireworks. - I've never seen anything like this before. I thought it was boring....
Funny. Normally, she would have said it with a lot more expression. Changed, though.
- You've changed. - I was surprised to hear you say that. - At least you're calmer than you were before.
Esdes blushed sweetly in response to my comment, which amused me a little. In the meantime, the fireworks stopped, making me cringe at the wild, joyous shrieking of the crowd around them.
- Let's go. - I shrugged my shoulder, heading out of the square.
There's nothing more to do here.
***
- Tell me... why haven't you been here all this time? - Esdes asked, walking beside me down the empty street.
The girl expressed her desire to walk along the currently deserted streets of the Capital, covered with fresh snow.
I cast a thoughtful glance at the girl, and then spoke:
- "The first two months after my 'death', I spent as a liquid. I sort of managed, in the form of blood, to eat some man, after which I was scraped off by Dorothea. She didn't realise I was alive until I had managed to form a semblance of a body, which was difficult. Then I spent a couple of weeks learning to control my new state, and... well, whoever I touched died, having been absorbed by me. I got a lot of energy for it, but I couldn't control it. It went on like that for another month. I had completely mastered my body, learning to transform it as I wished, but, let's call it "hunger", did not stop. Beyond that, I just didn't want to put you in danger. I searched for the imperial doctor who created the Ghouls, but the search was still unsuccessful.
And magically, just at that moment, I got word from the hunter that the doctor had arrived at his lab. The perfect chance to attack.
- What is it? - Esdes asked worriedly.
- Nothing... - I said with a smile. - Listen, let's get a room in some hotel.
- What's wrong with you? - Esdes repeated the question.
- Esdes. - with a chill in my voice, I said. - Let's go to a hotel.
- Okay. - She nodded glumly, turning her head round. - But I don't think there'll be any rooms available.
- That's my concern. - I replied.
Shit... I'd just been so rude to her. Not only that, but a little more and I would seriously begin to think about not to raise a hand on her. Am I so overgrown on the subject of the doctor's murder?
***
I slipped easily into the room, looking round for occupants. There were no unfortunate dead, so I went to the table, where there was a candle and a box of matches. Striking one of them, I lit the wick, illuminating the room slightly.
- What's the matter with you? - Esdes asked without the slightest hint of amusement.
- I'm fine. - I lied, smiling slightly.
- Stop lying. - Esdes started to get angry.
I instantly moved to the girl clutching her in my arms. I'll have to correct her memory, put her to sleep, and then I'm going to storm the lab.... Oh, that's a lot of pressure.
- I'm sorry. - I whispered.
- For what?
- It's not time yet. You came too soon. I'm sorry I let it happen...
- You didn't...
- I'll wait for you. - Still, I don't know when I'll see you again, so it'll be a snotty scene, but I need it for my conscience. - And when you find me again, I promise I'll be in complete control and I won't hurt you.
- And I won't let you go. I don't want to lose you again. - Esdes grinned, pulling me even tighter against her just in case. But that won't help.
- So you never found me. - I grinned, and then kissed Esdes' lips.
Esdes opened her eyes in surprise, but after a second she began to sink to the floor. My eyes began to slip sleepily, and just a few seconds later, I picked up the unconscious Esdes. Yeah, to be honest, it was easier than I thought it would be.
I gently put the girl on one of the beds and left the hunter in the room to wait for the guests to return and kill them. And then I headed off in the direction of the Kruenderger Mountain.
***
The entrance to the mountain was in one of the abandoned mines. I decided to go in head-on. But not in my disguise. Not far from the entrance, in the snow, there was an assassin who tried to slap me. So I took on his guise and headed into the depths of the mine. There, I found a small post of guards, who were puzzled by my appearance... but their surprise didn't last long. They were all dead, and I headed onwards in the guise of one of them. However, when I opened the simple, iron, 15 centimetres thick door, I was in a complete stupor.
A huge, white room, populated by a bunch of men and girls in white coats, constantly darting back and forth. A second passed... two... and here I was already drawn to hysterical laughter. The view of the lab was very similar to the Kano lab I'd visited once. And in the midst of all this splendour, there was a huge capsule, and in it was a charred carcass that clearly belonged to the Ghoul I had fried. Heh... that was a long time ago.
However, I was distracted from my musings by the bright red colour that flooded the room. Panic began abruptly, and people began to gather various papers at a rapid pace and run towards some green door. Apparently an exit. Well, it's worth slowing down the evacuation a bit.
One. The appearance changes to my true form. Two. Kagune is released and instantly travels almost 30 metres, digging into the area above the door, thus pelting it with chunks of concrete. The entire crowd turns sharply on me and I smile brightly, waving at them.
- Hi there! I said.
The next second, I had to dodge a dark blue koukaku blade wrapped around the arm of some black, bald guy in a white T-shirt and army trousers. I chopped it off with ease, absorbing it as I went, transforming both hands into whips that I used to chop the crowd. A dozen seconds and the lab is completely destroyed. Hmm... only that door over there is left, obviously leading to the doctor himself.
Once through it, I found myself in a long corridor, at the end of which I could see the grey neck of Rains, who was clearly in a hurry to leave this room. The way to him was blocked by two half-naked girls with some sort of ukaku behind them. They immediately put up their kagune as a shield, but mine easily penetrated the young Ghoul fakes.
A second later, the whip caught up with Raines, grabbing him by the leg and pulling him towards me.
- Here we are, the Honourable Dr Rynes. - I grinned, bringing his wrinkled face close to mine. Yeah, I must look really creepy right now.
- You..." the doctor wheezed.
- Mm-hmm. Я. - A nod from me followed. - Kaneki Ken, though you probably already know that. You've been wanting me on the operating table for a long time, haven't you? Well, it doesn't matter anymore. Die, you crazy experimenter. - I said as I devoured him.
Raines' memory sites.
The throne room.
- How is the study of battle chimeras progressing? - Emperor Khalizard asked.
- Not bad, my lord. I have already provided copies of the reports to your office.
- Still no luck in creating an organism as strong as No. 1?
- No, my lord. - I shook my head. - If there was a No. 4... Then the research would have progressed much faster.
- I see. - Halizard nodded.
The laboratory.
- I WANT IT!!! - came a female scream.
A girl of about sixteen years of age was running around the room. Every now and then, her eyes flashed scarlet and the whites turned black.
- Laura... Laura, calm down!" I said with a little panic, trying to calm the First.
- I want him! - moaned the girl, almost starting to climb the wall. - Well, tell me at least what his name is!?!?
- Okay... - I sighed. The girl instantly calmed down, flying up to me and staring at me with devoted eyes. - But I didn't tell you anything, okay? You're not supposed to know anything about him at all. - A nod followed from the girl, and I sighed and said it nonetheless: - His name is Kaneki Ken.
- Kaneki Ken..." the girl's lips grew wildly into a smile, and she herself almost spread out in a puddle on the floor. Her happiness and pleasure could literally be felt physically. - And the photo? Show the fire...
- No. - I interrupted her.
- Aah!
***
She's funny. It's weird, I didn't think of the first one that way. By the way, she's in the capital city, I should meet her, I'm really looking forward to it. Ahem... So I guess we both want to meet each other to socialise? Although she has... it's more of an intersex interest, but that's not that surprising. Since she's almost a replica of a real Ghoul, people don't satisfy her anymore, and if they do, at the peak of her passion, she'll probably just tear them apart with her physical strength, leaving her unsatisfied. And here I am.
Well, it's time to have some fun with the pebbles here, blow up the place. Then I'll check in with Felke and head to the capital.
***
I was walking briskly along the streets of the Capital, cheerfully looking at the disgruntled, sleepy faces of men and boys, who were probably sent to the nearest shop early in the morning. Or went for water themselves.
However, the one I needed was not hungover, being for some reason in my favourite cafe "Tasty Paradise", where I visit every month. Heh, I wonder if she recognises me now?
Walking into the cafe, I immediately caught a fleeting glimpse of this very same girl sitting in the corner of the cafe. What can I say about her... Black, long hair, bright blue, cheerful eyes, breasts of the second size, and dressed quite brightly. Yellow jacket, with bright red spots, and blue trousers with black shoes. She looked to be about 17, though she might be 18 now, since Raines didn't know her birthday.
She was busy eating the local Tiramisu, which in these circles was called "Boingledesh". Her gaze, relentlessly following me, immediately tensed me up. Did she recognise me? Then it wouldn't be fun. If she attacked me, I'd have to kill her, and I didn't want to do that.
Pretending not to notice her gaze, I walk up to the counter, addressing the cashier I've known for a long time:
- Hi. Coffee.
The guy smiled slightly at me with a nod, then scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to a kid who ran up to the counter and skipped off towards the kitchen.
- A new messenger? - I grinned, watching the kid, who was well into his mid-twenties.
- Yeah. - nodded the cashier. - They change almost every three days. New residents of the Capital, and all that.
- Is everything so rosy under the new Emperor? I've been out of touch with the politics of the last few months. - I asked, grinning a little, as if not noticing Laura's, that is, the First's, look, which had become a little sharper. I got the name from Raines' memory.
- Yes... Everything is fine. - My interlocutor was instantly transformed, and fear was visible on his face. Of course, such a question in the presence of a national hero. However, this fact was only in the newspapers, and I discovered it only today. I understood that Laura was considered a monster by the people, because of her nature and rather impudent behaviour, which caused many troublemakers with her as the instigator.
All right, the girl's reaction I needed to the question followed, we can go on. The main thing is not to overdo it...
- Who is that girl sitting in the corner of the restaurant? - Keeping a friendly smile on my face, I asked, deliberately not taking my eyes off the eyes of my interlocutor. He looked in that direction, but quickly looked away.
- I don't know. - He said quickly. - It's my first time here.
- Yeah? - I raised an eyebrow. - Given the smell in here, she's been here no more than two days ago, so don't lie to me.
- It's Laura Scottie. - The cashier gave in, squinting fearfully in the girl's direction while remaining silent.
- You think that name is going to tell me anything? - I snorted.
- She's a national hero and the last living Ghoul of the Empire, stronger than all the deceased combined! - exclaimed the guy, clearly getting a nod or something from Laura herself.
- Are you an idiot? - I smiled. - And what do you think I am? - absolutely playing to the audience, in the person of one single girl, I said.
- You mean you're like her? - the cashier asked in a whisper.
- No." I shrugged, taking a sip of the coffee that the kid had just brought in, then slipped back into the kitchen. - She's like me. She and her kind were created exactly in my likeness. Well, more like one of my kin, but that's beside the point.
- You'd better get out of here. - My companion said, frowning.
- Mm-hmm..." I said, finishing the rest of my coffee. - I only came in for coffee. Well, bye. - I waved my hand and headed for the exit, noticing Laura getting up from the table. Heh, this is gonna be fun.
***
I was leisurely heading... somewhere. I was just wandering through the city, thinking about my immediate future, while waiting for Laura, who was following me, to finally take more action.
What am I planning? Well, by the end of spring I should be ready with information on my new target, the Emperor. That fart is almost as knowledgeable about Ghouls as Raines is, and he's got copies of all the reports in his safe, which is not a good thing. And if with the laboratory, I was biased and overestimated its security, then with the palace will not be the same. The same 40 Teigoyuzers who, if they attack in droves... it could be bad even for my shapeless body.
So, in the summer, I'll have to find a couple of renegade individuals, make sure they're okay, and then... Hell, I'll have to see Akame... But I can do that without my own form, so that's a secondary concern. Next, storming the palace, covering my tracks about the Ghouls... and freedom.
With those thoughts in mind, I turned into an alleyway, where Laura was also heading. When I came to a small deserted square between the houses, I stopped, turning back to the lurker, keeping my hands in my pockets.
- I kept wondering when you'd come to me, and no, I had to do it all myself. - I said, drilling my gaze to the corner where Laura was hiding.
In the next second, the girl herself appeared from there, looking at me with a slight, gambling smile.
- I see you're not bad. - She grinned at me fully. - So you think you're like me? Or just to show off to a friend?
- Bragging to a friend? - I raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly. - I rarely bragged, and that cashier was no friend of mine. But about the first question, you're a little wrong.
- That's how..." the girl grinned openly. Her right eye turned black, and the pupil flashed scarlet. However, seeing my still slightly bored expression, she grinned even more.
- So you've seen Ghouls before..." she said, taking up some sort of fighting stance. - Well, then I'll show you the power of a real Ghoul.
It was a pretty good speed, a normal person would have seen a blurry blur at most... But it was slow for me. Too slow.
Here comes her right fist into my face. I, without taking my hands out of my pockets, step sideways, letting the slow fist pass by, while striking the girl with my knee on her liver. She only manages to dart her eyes in surprise, and is already flying into the snow drift that had gathered in the corner of the alley, thanks to the wipers. However, it still breaks through the wall.
A second passes. Two. And an orange tentacle, slightly resembling a scorpion's tail, is already flying at me from the rising smoke screen. I grin, dodging the blow, grabbing the tentacle in parallel and delivering a powerful two-footed kick to it. Kagune obediently cracks and tears into two pieces. I look up at the smoke that has already cleared, and there stands a pensive Laura, drilling me with her gaze. She looks pretty cute. One eye is blue plain, and the other is scarlet with black around it. Did I used to have that too? If I had two, it would have looked terrifying, but it was... By the way, there were only two tentacles coming out of her waist instead of my eight. Although, I have that kagune first developed in Rize, then in myself, and then twice mutated terribly.....
- You're pretty good. - She said, taking her time to remove the regenerated kagune. - Would you like to join the Imperial Army? I could get you a high position....
- And why such generosity? - I asked.
- I like you. - Laura suddenly said. - All around are terribly canned, as if they walk on knives, not open and weak. And you are cheerful, and even managed to fight me back ...
- Thanks, but I'll pass. - I smirked.
- In that case, I'll have to kill you. - Laura said, trying to smile as creepily as possible, while increasing the length of her rinkaku.
- Huh? - I couldn't hold back a snicker. - Well, try it. - I decided to use both kakugans, release all eight tentacles, and crunch my index finger. I decided to use this habit just for show, because in the previous world, it was really a problem for me. The constant crunching... Oh.
Meanwhile, Laura was catching her jaw looking at me.
- W-who are you??? - she exclaimed.
- Kaneki Ken, Ghoul. A real Ghoul for your information. - I replied, watching Laura's face slowly transform into an even more dumbfounded one.
The silence lasted about a minute. As it happened, we went into our own thoughts together. I about my former studies, and Laura apparently about the new news about her sought after subject.
- You're... Kaneki Ken? - she asked.
- Mm-hmm. - And you're one of the artificial Ghouls that Raines created.
- I... imagined you differently....
- Yeah? - I arched an eyebrow. - I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is. The blow from the First Teigu had knocked me down hard, but there was no outward change.
Laura's kagune quickly folded, and her eye returned to its human state.
- All right, my boredom has been somewhat dispelled, so I'm off. - I waved my hand as I jumped onto the roof.
- Stop!" Laura exclaimed and ran up to me, grabbing my right arm with both hands. It's a shame that I don't have empathy... I can see fear and excitement in her eyes, but I can't understand their sincerity... I don't think it gives me false emotions. According to Raines' memory, she was particularly eager to find me in the weeks before the storming of the Capital.
- What?" I asked, my face frosted with boredom.
- I... I'd like to talk to you. - With much less confidence, the girl said. - We couldn't... go somewhere?
Yeah... After all, she'd basically spent half her life in a lab.
- You know... - I said thoughtfully. - That's a phrase guys usually say to their... girlfriends when they're making this elaborate proposal to become a couple. And considering that just a few minutes ago you wanted to kill me....
- I-I apologise! - Laura exclaimed just as sharply.
- And what, you admit your guilt to me?
- Yes!
- All right, let's go out. - I easily agreed.
- А...
- I don't mind talking to you. Still, I'm curious about the only normal member of Raines' experiments.
- You know him? - Laura asked in surprise.
I had a small thought that I was doing something wrong, but my mouth was already open.
- Yes. I killed him.